Insulated electrical clip



Sept. 19, 1950 w. H. BAILEY INSULATED ELECTRICAL CLIP Filed Jan. 28,1947 IWW Inventor Wyman H. Bailey B) A Home];

Patented Sept. 19 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE INSULATED ELECTRICALCLIP Wyman H. Bailey, Norfolk, Va.

Application January 28, 1947, Serial No. 724,901

2 Claims. (01. 173-273) This invention relates generallytoelectricalconnectors, and more particularly to an insulated electrical connectorcomprising a pair of spring loaded pivoted jaws, the jaws beinginsulated, that is, covered by an insulating layer extending completelyover each jaw excepting the terminal engaging faces of the jaws and thehinge joint, one of the jaws being provided with novel meansforconnecting the same to a conductor in a manner inhibiting a break inthe insulative covering of the clip and the end of the conductor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of this characterin which the connection of one of the jaws to the conductor is designedto be extremely strong and perfectly insulated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of connecting theconductor to an electrical clip so that the conductor is convenientlydisengageable from the clip.

Another object of-this invention is to provide an electrical connectorparticularly well adapted for manufacture insmall sizes as well as largesizes, and which is particularly well adapted for use by radiotechnicians, and for general use where relatively high voltages areencountered in small or compacted apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of connecting theconductor to a clip, wherein provision has been made to prevent theactual soldering of the conductor from damaging any portion of thedevice.

And a last object to be specifically mentioned is to provide a device ofthis character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simpleand convenient to use and which is suinciently sturdy to provide forgenerally efiicient and durable surface.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts andportions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly setforth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the assembled clip and a portion ofthe conductor to which this clip is applied;

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the structure shown inFigure l; and

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 3--3 ofFigure 2.

Similar characters of reference designate simi-- lar or identical partsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the severalviews of the drawing.

faces 28 and 32.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral I 0 indicates anelectrical conductor to which this invention is to be applied, thisconductor being normally an insulated wire as best illustrated in Figure2, where the wire is represented at I2 and the insulative covering at14. The bared portion of the wire I2 is inserted into an elongatedaperture l6 disposed longitudinally of a plug l8, this aperture beingflared, as at 20 to facilitate the entrance of the bared terminalportion of the wire. This flaring has a secondary function since itfacilitates the soldering of the wire [2 to the plug I8 without unduespreading of the solder. The other end of the plug I8 is reduced indiameter and threaded as at 22, and it will be noted that the threadedportion 22 is well removed from the flared apertured portion 20, so thatthe above referred to soldering will not damage the threads.

This plug I8 is designed to be screwed into an interiorly threadedsocket 24 on the end of the jaw 25, which jaw is one of a pair of jawscom prising the terminal engaging portion of this device, the actualterminal engaging faces being serrated and disposed in substantiallyparallel relation, the terminal engaging face of the jaw 26 beingrepresented at 28, and the terminal engaging face of the other jaw 30 isrepresented at 32. The actual shaping of these terminal engaging faces28 and 32 will Vary in accordance with the use to which the device is tobe put, that shown in the drawing being thought practicable for generalor universal use. It will be noted that the metallic portion of the jawsis in each case completely covered by insulation 34 and 36 excepting theactual terminal engaging An apparently minor detail which has been foundof great importance in the actual use of this clip is the insulation ofthe tips 38 and 40, it being found preferable to extend the insulativecovering beyond said tips, as shown in Figure 2, so that the tip can beinserted with safety and, without undue care being necessitated, intoenergized electrical equipment, since the clip is effectually insulateduntil such time as the jaws are opened. The relatively thin structure ofthe strap portions of the jaws will be evident from an examination ofFigure 3.

The insulative material 34 and 36 is extended as at 42 and 44,respectively, to comprise hinge members which are transversely drilledto receive a hinge pin 46. The extensions 42 will preferably be extendedtransversely of the clip as at 48, to improve the insulation of the endsof the hinge pin 46, and this hinge pin will nor mally be made fastwithin the members 42 by slightly expanding the ends thereof by a punch.A spring 50 is inserted on this hinge pin 46, one end of the springengaging each of the jaws, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

It will therefore be seen that the insulative covering 34 adjacent thesocket 24 does not cover the plug 18 and an insulative sleeve 52, of anexternal diameter preferably substantially equal to the externaldiameter of the insulation covering the socket 24, and an internaldiameter feature having been found to greatly increase the useful lifeof the device.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from theforegoing description of the mechanical details thereof but, inrecapitulation, it should be noted that this device is adapted forinsertion into compacted electrical or electronic equipment, beingespecially adapted for use as a detachable terminal on the ends offlexible leads in test equipment.

' Many and various minor modifications may be made in the structuraldetail and proportioning of various parts of this device, all Within thescope and spirit of this invention, and though there has been shown aparticular embodiment of this invention, this application is not limited4 to this particular embodiment, but it is desired to include in thescope of this invention the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts and portions substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Number What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by LettersPatent is:

1. An electrical connector including a pair of coacting jaws, said jawshaving serrated terminal engaging faces, and insulation coverings onsaid jaws except on said faces and having a spring loaded hinge jointindirectly hinging said jaws and comprising interfitting flangeextensions on said coverings, a hinge pin disposed transversely of andthrough said extensions, and a spiral spring arranged coaxially on saidpin and terminally engaging said coverings, and means to detachablysecure a conductor to one of said jaws.

2. An electrical connector including a pair of coacting jaws, said jawshaving serrated terminal engaging faces, insulation coverings on saidjaws except on said faces and having a, spring loaded hinge jointindirectly hinging said jaws and comprising interfitting flangeextensions on said coverings, a hinge pin disposed transversely of andthrough said extensions, and a spiral spring arranged coaxially on saidpin and terminally engaging said coverings, and means to detachablysecure a conductor on the end of one jaw and remote from thecorresponding serrated terminal engaging face.

WYMAN H. BAILEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Zannoth Jan. 25, 1916 Wentworth Mar. 25,1919 Niemann May 2 1, 1932 Winkle Aug. 22, 1933 Davis Nov. 13, 1934Brown Dec. 28, 1937 Buettell May 27, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateFrance Dec. 29, 1931 Number

